Circular knitting machine



April 19, 1960 Filed Aug. 3, 1956 J. L. GETAZ CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet l ww WE INVENTOR. JAMES LA GET/QZ @Mew HTTONEYS April 19, 1960 J. 1 GETAZ 2,932,959 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 7L "S i Q31 Z2 L 46 4m 25 M -1 INVENTOR. T :l Jamas L. GETAZ BY MLM/'JU fw/ TTORNEYS April 19, 1960 J, L GETAZ 2,932,959

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAMES L G51-nz RTTORNEYS April 19, 1960 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 L J4 4Q 21 55 N215 INVENTOR. Jar/:Es L. C55-mz J. l.. GETAZ 2,932,959

April 19, 1960 J. L. GETAz 2,932,959

CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE Filed Aug. :5, 195e e sheets-smeet 5 Z3 ZZ Ticllm. Z K 5f um za? INVENTCR. JHMES L.. GETFJZ BM, mm; f fwd HTTENEYS J. L. GETAZ CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE April 19, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 3, 1956 INVENTOR.

JAMES L.

GET-Az HTTO RNEHS CIRCULAR KNITTNG MACHENE James L. Getaz,

live percent to New York, N Y., assigner of seventy- Unted States Trust Co.,

New York,

This invention relates to circular knitting machines and their method of operation in the manufacture of hosiery.

In my Patent No. 2,740,279 a new method is shown for the construction of hosiery so that the toe may be closed with a minimum of cost by sewing a longitudinal seam in the sole of the hose. In a preferred method which is shown, at the beginning of the knitting of the toe portion, a small group of needles is raised out oi action, and a series of long courses are knitted by reciprocating the cylinder of the knitting machine. In the patent mentioned above, the knitting needles on whichthe wales are knitted from points l to 1l are raised out of action, and the lirst course which is thenknitted eX- ;lends from l0 to 18 and to 10 on the other side of the ose.

It may be desirable to limit the number of needles which are raised out of action when the knitting of the toe is begun to a small portion of the number of needles in the circumference of the cylinder. In order to accomplish this there are certain'changes in the construction and operation of the knitting machine which are necessary and which it is the purpose of this application to provide. These changes adect the extent of rotation in the reciprocating movements of the cylinder and the positions of the stitch cams and picks as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l shows the path of the needle butts as they pass through the knitting wave in a clockwise direction, looking from the inside ofthe cylinder.

Figures lA to 1E show the positions of a needle in following the path shown in Figure l.

Figure 2 shows the path of the needle butts as they pass through the knitting wave in a counterclockwise direction.

Figures 2A to 2E show the positions of a needle in following the path shown in Figure 2. r

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cylinder, needles and knitting cams as they are used in ordinary knitting in reciprocating movement.

Figure 4 is a developed View of the needles and cam block as shown in Figure 3 looking from the inside of the cylinder.

Figure 5 ,is a developed View of the needles and cam block as the cylinder approaches the end of its stroke in a counterclockwise movement.

Figure 6 is a plan View of the cylinder, needles and knitting cams when the cylinder is at the end of its stroke in counterclockwise movement.

Figure 7 is a developed view of block as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a developed view of the needles and cam block just after the cylinder has left its position at the end of its stroke in counterclockwise movement and has started to turn clockwise.

Figure 9'is a plan view of the cylinder, needles and knitting cams when the cylinder is at the end of its stroke in a clockwise movement.

the needles and cam s325359 Patented Apr. 19, .1960

` block as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an elevation showing a mechanism for moving the knitting cams and picks in unison with the reciprocating movements of the knitting machine,

Figures l, 2, 3 and 4 are illustrative oi the present art of knitting on circular machines by reciprocating the cylinder 20, and they are introduced here to make ciear the need and purpose of this invention. -In Figure l are shown the usual knitting cams, the stitch cams 2l and 22 and the center cam 23. There are also the raising cams 24 and 2S by which the needles are raised after the stitch has been drawn down when the butts 26 of the needles 27 pass under the stitch cams. The dotted line with arrows, shows the path of the butts 26 as they form a new stitch on each needle as the cylinder is turned in a clockwise direction. The line 28 represents the level of the stitch ring and the Figures lA to 1E show the positions of the needles 27 in forming new stitches as they are raised and lowered by the knitting cams. In Figure 1A the needle is approaching the knitting cams'. in Figure 1B it has'been raised by cam 21 so that the loop 29 is shed over the latch 30; in Figure 1C the needle 27 has been lowered by the center cam 23 and the hook 31 engages the yarn 32; in Figure 1D the needle has been drawn down by the stitch cam 22, formingl a new loop of yarn 32 and casting the old loop 29 over the hook 31; in Figure 1E the needle 27 has been raised by the cam 25 with the new loop of yarn 32 around the needle. In Figures 2 and 2A to 2E are shown the same movements of needles 27 as the cylinder is turned` in a counterclockwise direction.

In Figures 1A to 1E and 2A to 2E the needles 2.7 are drawn at a side View to show the action of the butts, hooks and latches. In subsequent figures, which are views from the inside of the cylinder, the needles are shown for only part of their length and by straight lines as only the backs of the needles are to be seen.

it is apparent from Figures l and 2 that in reciproeating the cylinder the rotation cannot be .reversed while the knitting cams are in contact with the butts of the needles. If the cylinder were turning clockwise and the direction of rotation were reversed, the butts which were on the left side of the center cam 23 would strike the stitch cam 21. In ordinary knitting there is no difficulty in this respect as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The needles 2'7L are long butt needles which have been. raised out oi action. They extend halfway around the cylinder from point 40 to point v4l in Figure 3 and from needle 42 to needle 43 in Figure 4. VThe space between these two needles is wider than the distance from point 44 to point 4S. The cylinder is generally rotated one complete revolution with each reciprocation, always stopping in the position shown in Figure 3 and with the long butt needles 271. in the position shown in Figure 4, when knitting by reciprocation begins, so that when the cylinder stops at the end of each stroke, there are no butts of needles in contact with the knitting cams. The needles 27S are used in knitting the toe and are free to enter contact with the knitting cams when reciprocation begins. The needles 27S return to the same positon as shown in Figure 4 with each reciprocation, except that when the cylinder moves clockwise the first short butt needle 46 is raised to the height of needles 271. bythe pick 47 turning on its pivot 76, and when the cylinder moves counterclockwise the iirst short butt needle 48 is raised by pick 49, turning on its pivot 77. In knitting the narrowing side of a gore, one short butt needle is raised tion of hose in the customary manner. ln this invention the action on the needle butts 26 by the knitting cams 21, 22 and 23 is complicated by the fact that the number of needles which are raised out of action, when beginning to knit the toe, is reduced to a comparatively small group, perhaps 12% of the total number of needles in the cylinder, instead of 5,0% as shown in Figures 3 and 4. I

Referring to Figure 5, the needles are being carried counterclockwise by the cylinder 2t) and are approaching the end'of this stroke. The last of the active needles which have not been raised out of action is needle 52. As shown in this figure, it has passed cam 22 and is in contact with center cam 23. In order to iinish this stroke it is apparent that it should continue to move in the direction of the arrow unil it has passed he center cam 23, the stitch cam 21, the raising cam 24 and the point 44 so that this needle and those that are adjacent to it will be in proper position to begin the movement in a clockwise direction. This position of needle 52 and the adjacent needles is showninFigures 6 and 7, the cylinder 20 having reached the end ot" its stroke in a counterclockwise movement. Also in Figures 9 and 10, the cylinder has reached the end of its stroke in a clockwise direction, and the needle S3 has passed the point 4S and is in position to be raised by cam 22 when move- Vment in a counterclockwise direction is begun. It is apparent `from a comparison of the positions ofthe needles 52 and 53 Vin Figures 6 and 9 that it is necessary for the cylinder to rotate one complete revolution and part of a second revolution, perhaps one-fourth of a second revolation, with each reciprocating movement,

Referring again to Figure 5, it the pick 49 remains in the position shown while needles '53, 55 and the adjacent needles move to the lett as the cylinder nishes its stroke, needle S3 would be raised to the height of needle 51. This movement of the needles as the cylinder pick 47 are withdrawn, as shown in Figure 9, in the Same manner of timing as cam 22 and pick 49 were withdrawn on the previous stroke. As the cylinder starts on the next stroke which is counterclockwise, needle 53 will be raised by pick 49 and after needle 54 has passed the position of cam 21, this cam will be returned to its position adjacent to the cylinder in time to be in contact with needle 55, and draw this needle down with the other needles which follow to form new loops.

Figure l1 is a diagram of a mechanism which may be used for moving the cams 21 and 22 and picks 47 and 49 as described above. On the driving gear 60, which turns on shaft 61, is mounted the arm 62 and this drives the gear segment 63, mounted on shaft 64, causing the gear segment to reciprocate back and forth with each revohition of gear 6d. The gear 65 on shaft 67 is driven in reciprocating rotation by the gear segment 63, and shaft 67 drives the bevel gears 66 which rotate the cylinder 20. As the gears 65 and 66 and the cylinder 20 turn for more than one revolution with each reciprocating movement, they cannot be conveniently connected to actuate cams 21 and 22 or picks 47 and 49 in moving them from and to their positions adjacent to the cylinder as such a connection would cause these cams and picks to move from and to their positions twice during each reciprocation. In order that they may move out and in only once in each reciprocation and their movements be so timed that they will move in unison with the movements of the needles, they are connected to be moved by the gear finishes its stroke is part of the second revolution as mentioned above. This raising of needle S3 would mean that two needles were raised by pick 49 on this one reciprocating stroke. This raising of two needles, one at the beginning of the stroke and one at the end would make the gore too short, and to prevent this it is necessary to remove pick 49 from its position adjacent to the cylinder to that shown in Figure 6 before needle 53 reaches it. Also, if .the cam 22 remains in the position shown in Figure 5 while needle 55 and those adjacent to it move to the left as the cylinder finishes its stroke, these needles would be raised by cam 22 and pulled down by cam 23 and would .interfere with the movement of the cylinder as it changes direction in beginning the clockwise stroke.

F,Ilo avoid these interferences, after needle 52 has passed cam 22 and before needle 53 reaches pick 49, cam 22 and pick 49 are both withdrawn from their positions adjacent to the cylinder 20 so that they do not come in contact with the needles as shown in Figure 6. Needles 53 and 55 and those which follow move on the level of point 45, the butts or these needles passing under the center cam 23 to the positions shown in Figure 7 which is the end of the counterclockwise stroke.

As' vthe cylinder begins its clockwise movement, the needles move to the right as shown in Figure S. Needle 52 is raised to the height of needle 50 by pick 47 and needle 54 with 'those which follow are raised by cam 21 and drawn down by the center cam 23. Afterneedle 53 has passed the point of the right end of cam 2.2 and before needle 54 has reached its left end, cam 22 is returned to its position adjacent the cy inder to engage the needles. Then needles 54. and those that follow are drawn down by cam 22 in the same manner as shown in Figure l to form new loops.

ln the clockwise stroke thev needles 27S which are included in the unraised group extending from the needle 54 to the needle 53 make a complete revolution. As they approach the end of this stroke the cam 21 and the vcams 68 and 69.

segment '63. I

To accomplish this, there4 is mounted on shaft 64 two Cam 63 contacts the iug 7? on lever 71 and `this lever turns on pivot 72 and is held in its upward position by spring 73. The motion of lever '71 is transmitted by rod 74 and bell crank 75 to a plate 76 on which are mounted cam 22 and the pivot 78 of pick 49. As the gear segment moves to the left, it turns cylinder 20 counterclockwise. Near the end of this stroke cam 68 contacts lug 70, depresses lever '71, and through the linkage 74, 75 and '76 withdraws cam 22 and pick 49 from their positions adjacent to the cylinder as shown in Figures 6 and 7. As gear segment 63 starts on its movement to the right, cylinder 20 begins its clockwise movement, cam 68 releases lug 70 and cam 22 and pick 49 are returned to their positions adjacent the cylinder by spring 73. As gear segment 63 approaches the end of its movement to the right, vcylinder 2t) nears the end of its clockwise movement andV cam 69 contacts av to the cylinder by moving them vertically or tangentially with reference to the cylinder. The picks may be moved out of contact with the needles by turning them onY their pivots instead of moving the pivots as shown.

I claim: v

v1. In a circular' knitting machine, a cylinder containing longitudinal slots around its circumference, knitting needles which are movable lengthwise in said slots, driving means for imparting reciprocating movements to said cylinder through an angle exceeding 360, cams and picks having positions adjacent to said cylinder for moving said needles upon said reciprocating movements of said cylinder, means eie'ctively linking said cams and said driving means for moving said cams and said picks from and to said positions in synchronism with said reciprocating movements. j

2. In a circular knitting machine,'a cylinder containing vertical slots around its circumference, knitting needles which are movable lengthwise in said slots, driving means spaanse for imparting reciprocating movements to said cylinder through an angle exceeding 360, two cams and two picks having positions adjacent to said cylinder for moving said needles upon said reciprocating movements of said cylinder, and means effectively linking said' cams and said driving means for moving each of said cams and said picks alternately from and to its said position in unison with alternate said reciprocating movements of said cylinder.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder containing longitudinal slots around its circumference, knitting needles which are movable lengthwise in said slots, means for imparting reciprocating movement to said cylinder through an angle exceeding 360 by the reciprocation of a gear segment, two cams and two picks having positions adjacent to said cylinder for moving said needles upon said reciprocating movements of said cylinder", W

means eEectively linking said cams and said driving means for moving each of said cams and each of said picks alternately away from said positions, and for moving each of said earns and each of said picks into said positions, both of said movements of said cams and of said picks being in unison with said reciprocation of said gear segment.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a cylinder having vertical slots around its circumference, knitting needles which are movable vertically in said slots, means for imparting reciprocating movements -to said cylinder through an angle exceeding 360, two cams and two picks having positions adjacent to said cylinder for moving said needles on said reciprocating movements of said cylinder, said needles being divided into two continuous groups, one group being on a level with said earns and said picks to be actively engaged thereby, a smaller group being raised to a higher level to be out of contact with said cams and said picks, means for moving each of said cams and each of said picks away from its said position after one portion of said active needles has passed said position and before another portion of said active needles has reached said position during a reciprocating movement of said cylinder, and means for moving each of said cams and each of said picks into its said position after one portion of said active needles has passed said position and before another portion of said active needles has reached said position.

5. A method of knitting long courses of stitches on a reciprocating circular knitting machine having a cylinder, a group of needles in the circumference of said cylinder, a cam and a pick in positions adjacent to said cylinder for moving one or more of said needles upon reciprocation of said cylinder, which comprises reciprocating said cylinder through an angle exceeding 360, raising the first of said group of needles with said pick and moving all the remaining needles of said group with said cam while said group passes said position during the rst part of said reciprocation, and withdrawing said cam and said pick from positions when said group is passing said positions during the latter part of said reciprocation.

6. A method of knitting long courses of stitches on a reciprocating circular knitting machine having a cylinder, a group of needles in the circumference of said cylinder, two cams and two picks in positions adjacent to said cylinder for moving one or more needles upon reciprocation of said cylinder, which comprises rotating said cylinder one complete revolution and part of a second revolution with each reciprocating movement of said cylinder, alternately moving said needles with said cams and raising one or more of said group of needles at alternate ends of said group with said picks during said first revolution of each alternate reciprocation and alternately withdrawing said cams and said picks from said positions while said group is passing said positions in said part of said second revolution.

7. A method of knitting long courses of stitches on a reciprocating circular knitting machine having a cylinder, a group of needles in the circumference of said cylinder, and a cam and a pick in positions: adjacent to said cylinder for moving said needles upon reciprocation of said cylinder, which comprises reciprocating said cylinder through an angle exceeding 360, moving one or more of said needles with said cam and said pick during the tirst part of a reciprocating movement of said cylinder and withdrawing said cam and said pick from said positions during the last part of said reciprocating movement, moving said cam and said pick into said positions during the iirst part of the following reciprocating movement ot said cylinder, and repeating said movements of said cam and pick with subsequent reciprocating movements of said cylinder.

8. in a circular knitting machine, a cylinder containing longitudinal slots around its circumference, a group of knitting needles in said slots, a knitting cam and a pick adjacent to said cylinder, driving means for imparting reciprocating movements clockwise and counterclockwise to said cylinder tluough an angle exceeding 360, means for placing said pick in position to raise one or more needles of said group out of action and ,for placing said cam in position to raise the remaining needles of said group on said counterclockwise movement of said cylinder, means for moving said cam and said pick from said positions after said needles have been raised during said counterclockwise movement, and means for placing said cam in position to pull down at least some of the remaining said needles on said clockwise movement of said cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 1,374,163 Miller Apr. 5, 1921 1,945,227 La Montagne Jan. 30, 1934 2,740,279 Getaz Apr. 3, 1956 2,757,526 Crawford Aug. 7, 1956 

